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Spending Reduced $7.8 million in Last 6 Months, Down $11.1 million in Just One Year

The Senate’s Republican Majority has reduced Senate spending by $7.8 million over the last six months and $11.1 million in the last year alone, saving hardworking taxpayers millions of dollars while creating a leaner, functional and more efficient state government.

These figures were released today as part of the Senate’s biannual expenditure report, which is similar to reports produced by the U.S. Congress. The report provides a line-by-line account of actual Senate spending for the period of April 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011, which totals $40.2 million.

The previous Democrat majority spent $51.3 million during the same 6-month period in 2010.

“Under our leadership, the Senate is scrutinizing every expenditure to see if it’s justified and we’re doing more with less. Senate Republicans have erased the multimillion dollar deficit we inherited from the Senate Democrats, and working with the Governor we’re stabilizing the State’s finances and turning New York around,” Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said.

By comparison, in the two years Democrats controlled the State Senate, they wildly overspent their budget by $5.7 million and $7.7 million, respectively, and bloated the Senate payroll - - spending a whopping $13 million more on staff than was budgeted.

"After two disastrous years of the Senate Democrats leading the Senate, New York State has turned the corner. Under the leadership of the Republican Senators, the Senate has found ways to operate much more efficiently, and to use fewer resources to accomplish the same goals, resulting in substantial savings to the state," said Senate Finance Chairman, John A. DeFrancisco.

While spending is down across the board, Senate Republicans have also reduced the chamber’s mailing expenses by $1.7 million, primarily through measures designed to promote greater efficiency and an improved, streamlined process.

Since assuming leadership of the Senate in January 2011, Republicans have closed regional offices across the State, renegotiated leases and moved members into smaller, less costly, or even free office space.

Republicans have reduced the Senate payroll by hundreds of positions, and six offices have been consolidated into three (Journal Clerk and Document Room – Chamber Services; Payroll and Accounts Payable – Fiscal Office; Photography and TV Services – Media Services). In addition, the position of Chief Information Officer has been eliminated and its responsibilities have been absorbed by Senate Technology Services.